My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Results tagged ‘ Games Pitched ’

The Phils have announced that they have just signed a one-year deal with Jerome Williams.

Williams, whom the Phils have picked up off of waivers during the summer, would start in nine games for the Phils, ending the season with a record of 4-2, with a 2.83 ERA, as he appeared in 57.1 innings, giving up 48 hits and 20 runs, 18 of which were earned, as he struck out 38 batters while walking 17. Williams, who also pitched for the Astros and the Rangers during the season, would appear in a total of 37 games, with 11 starts, compiling a combined record of 6-7 with a 4.77 ERA, as he pitched in 115.0 innings, giving up 125 hits and 64 runs, 61 of which were earned, as he struck out 82 batters while walking 36.

Williams would be receiving $2.5 million dollars, including performance bonuses, as he stays with the team, being one of the team’s confirmed starters, with the others being team ace Cole Hamels and Dave Buchanan, while Cliff Lee works his way back from a year ending elbow injury, and A.J. Burnett decides whether to stay with the team, attempt free agency or retire from baseball and Kyle Kendrick looks to become a free agent after the World Series is over.

Glad to still have you on the team, Jerome. Hope that 2015 will be as good for you as the final month or so of 2014 was.

that they have outrighted right handed relief pitcher Shawn Camp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and have recalled right handed relief pitcher Luis Garcia.

Camp has appeared in just three games this season, including last night’s outing against the Blue Jays, in which he would pitch in three and a third innings, giving up two runs, both in last night’s game, on seven hits, as he stuck out a batter, for a record of 0-0, 5.40 ERA.

Luis Garcia, who is making his second appearance with the team this year, pitched against the Braves on April 14, pitching a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter, in the Phils’ 9-6 lost. In 2013, Garcia would appear in 24 games, all in relief, compiling a 1-1, 3.73 ERA record, as he threw 31.1 innings, giving up 15 runs, 13 of which were earned, on 27 hits, 23 walks and a hit batter, while striking out 23. At Lehigh Valley this year, Garcia’s record is 2-0 and six saves with a 0.00 ERA, as he had appeared in 11 games, pitching in 13 and 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits, an unearned run and four walks, while striking out 13.

First. yesterday, former Phil Roy Oswalt announced that he was officially retiring, as he signed a one-day contract with the Astros so that he could officially retire as an Astros. Oswalt, who is an fourteen-year veteran, ten of which was spent as an Astros, was a member of the Phils for part of the 2010 season and part of the 2011 season, during which he complied a winning record of 16-11. Oswalt would also play for the Rangers and the Rockies. Oswalt, during his career, would be the NL leader for ERA in 2006 with a 2.98 ERA, wins in 2004 with 20, games started with 35 games in both 2004 and 2005 and in WHIP in 2010 with a 1.03 WHIP. He was also a member of the 2005 Astros team that would win the NL pennant before losing to the White Sox in that year’s World Series, being swept by Chicago, 4-0. Overall, Oswalt had a career record of 163-102 with a 3.36 ERA as he pitched in 365 games, 341 of which were starts, as he completed 20 games, including 8 shutouts. He would pitch in 2245.1 innings, giving up 2199 hits and 897 runs, 838 of which were earned, as he struck out 1852 batters, while walking only 520. I wish you luck in your retirement, Roy.

Then, the Phils announced that Comcast plans to hire both Jamie Moyer and Matt Stairs to replace Chris Wheeler and Garry Matthews inside the TV broadcast booth, starting this season during Spring Training. Congratulations, guys. Hope you both do well in the broadcast booth.

Lastly, the Phils announced that they have just signed starter A.J. Burnett, who they have been pursuing during the off-season, to a one-year contract worth $16 million dollars. Burnett, who had pitched for the Pirates last year and in 2012, is coming off a 10-11 season, with a 3.30 ERA, as he pitched in 30 games, all starts, with a complete game, as he threw in 191 innings, giving up 165 hits and 79 runs, 70 of which were earned, as he struck out 209 batters, while walking only 67. Burnett, who has also pitched for the Marlins, the Blue Jays and the Yankees, being a member of the 2009 World Championship team, has a 147-132 record with a 3.99 ERA, as he appeared in 375 games, starting 370 of them, as he threw 23 complete games, 10 of which were shutouts. He threw a total of 2353.2 innings, giving up 2140 hits and 1142 runs, 1043 of which were earned, as he struck out 2180 batters, while walking only 955. Welcome to the team, A.J.

Burnett’ll more than likely be the number three man in the starting rotation, after Cole Hamels starts pitching after the start of the season, as the Phils announced that Cole will miss opening day as he has developed tendinitis in his left bicep, which will keep him from throwing the ball for the next eight to ten days, and slow down his participation in spring training, although Cole has said that he should be ready to pitch at some point in April. I’m just hoping that it is only a minor setback, as the Phils will need Cole to back up Cliff Lee, if they expect to get anywhere this season.

Today, the Phils announced that they had signed to a one-year deal, worth $1.4 million dollars, plus award bonuses, left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo, the only player on the roster who was arbitration eligible.

Bastardo, who had an awful 2012 season, would appear in 65 games, all in relief, as he pitched in 52 innings, compiling a record of 2-5, plus a save in five save opportunities, as he had an ERA of 4.33 with a WHIP of 1.27, as he allowed 40 hits and 26 runs, all but one of which was earned, as he struck out 81 batters, while walking 26. In four season with the Phils, with 2011 being his best season, so far, Bastardo has compiled a record of 12-9 with a 4.02 ERA and a WHIP of 1.20, as he appeared in 160 games, all but 5 games being in relief, as he threw in 152 and a third innings, giving up 113 hits and 70 runs, all but two of which were earned, as he struck out 196 batters, while walking only 70. He also have nine career saves in fifteen save opportunities.

Bastardo, who may be the team’s main lefty set-up man when the season starts, have held hitters to a .207 batting average in 2012, being especially tough on lefties as he held them to a .169 batting average against. He ended the season third among relievers in strikeouts per nine innings with a 14.02 mark, despite having a bad season, thanks to being hit hard by batters during the middle part of the season, before finally regaining his grove towards them season’s final weeks. Hopefully, he’ll regain his form that he had for most of 2011 this season.

Yesterday, the Phils announced that they’d added some pitching depth as they signed veteran starter Rodrigo Lopez to a Minor League deal, while also giving him an invite to Spring Training.

Lopez, who had pitched for the Phils once before, in 2009, before being sent back to the minors by the team when they added future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez to the ballclub during the summer, last pitched for the Chicago Cubs. He appeared in four games in 2012 for the Cubbies, going 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA and a WHIP of 2.05, as he pitched for 6.1 innings, giving up 8 hits and 6 runs, four of which were earned, as he struck out only two while walking five. When he pitched for the Phils in 2009, he had a record of 3-1 with an ERA of 5.70 with a 1.77 WHIP, as he pitched in seven games, five of which were starts, as he appeared in 30 innings, giving up 42 hits and 24 runs, 19 of which were earned, as he struck out 19 batters while giving up 11 free passes.

During a 11 years career, Lopez had been with the Orioles, the Padres, the Rockies and the Diamondbacks, as well as the Phils and the Cubs, compiling a record of 81-89, with a 4.82 ERA and a WHIP of 1.42. He had appeared in 257 games, 215 of which were starts, as he pitched in 1350 and two-thirds innings, giving up a total of 1506 hits and 789 runs, 742 of which were earned, as he struck out 865 batters, while walking 416.

More than likely, Lopez will start the season with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, but he should be available if any member of the Phils’ starting rotation gets injured during the season.

First off, I would like to take the time to say, Happy New Year’s, folks. Second, sorry for the lack of posts, but, I got too busy with other things to get myself in gear to do new posts. But, I now got the time, and boy, do I have a lot to cover, as the Phils made some wheeling and dealing and small-scale free agent signings which they hope will put them into position to get back into the playoffs this upcoming October.

First, in the Rule Five Draft they picked up outfielder Ender Inciarte from the Arizona Diamondbacks, whom they hope will anchor centerfield in a few seasons, while drafting in the Triple-A Phase of the draft right-handed pitcher Brendan Lafferty from the Kansas City Royals organization, while not losing a player to the draft.

On the same day, December 6, they made a trade with the Minnesota Twins, getting centerfielder Paul Revere, in exchange for minor league right-handed pitching prospect Trevor May and, coming as a complete surprise to most, right-handed starter Vance Worley. Revere, who appeared in 124 games for the Twins, batted .294 (150 for 511), hitting 13 doubles and 6 triples, as he scored 70 times, while knocking in 32. He had also stole 40 bases, ranking him third in the AL for 2012, being caught just 9 times. May spent 2012 pitching for the Reading Phillies (now the Fighting Phillies). Worley, who was placed on the disabled list towards the end of the 2012 season, before having an operation to remove bone chips from his elbow, would pitch in 23 games for the Phils before being shut down, all starts, as he collected a 6-9 record, with a 4.20 ERA and a WHIP of 1.51, as he pitched in 133 innings, giving up 154 hits and 69 runs, 62 of which were earned, as he struck out 107 batters, while walking only 47. Sorry to see you go, Vance, and I wish you luck in Minnesota, as long as you don’t pitch against the Phils. And, welcome to the team, Paul. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay here.

Then, on December 8, the Phils announced that they had made another trade, this one with the Texas Rangers, as they brought in Michael Young to take over duties at third base, in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Josh Lindblom and pitching prospect Lisalverto Bonilla. Michael Young, who has also played first base, second base and shortstop, appeared in 156 games for the former American League Champs (2010-11) batting .277 (169 for 611), as he hit 27 doubles, 3 triples and 8 home runs during the season, knocking in 67 runs, while scoring 79 times. He also walked 33 times. Josh Lindblom, who had started the 2012 season pitching relief for the Los Angeles before being traded to the Phils as part of a trade involving Shane Victorino, appeared in 74 games for both clubs, all in relief, posting a combined record of 3-5 with one save in four save opportunities, as he fielded an ERA of 3.55 and a WHIP of 1.35. He pitched in 71 innings, allowing 61 hits and 31 runs to score, of which 28 were earned. He walked 35 batters while striking out 70. Bonilla spent 2012 pitching for Clearwater and then Reading in the Phils’ farm system. Welcome to the team, Michael. I hope that you can help the team via both your bat and your glove, especially the later, as it looks like you may not just be covering the hot corner of third base during the season.

After the two trades, the Phils then made a pair of minor free agent signings, both pitchers, one a reliever and the other a starter. First, they signed to a two-years, $12 million dollars contract, with relief pitcher Mike Adams, formerly of the Rangers, who will be acting as the eight-inning bridge to Jonathan Papelbon, as he plans to take over an inning that was a major problem for the ballclub all season long. For the Rangers, Adams pitched in 61 games, compiling a 5-3 record with a 3.27 ERA and a WHIP of 1.39, as well as collecting a save in two save attempts. He would pitch in 52 and a third innings, giving up 56 hits and 21 runs, 19 of which were earned, as he struck out 45 batters, while walking only 17. The Phils then signed former Washington Nationals’ starter John Lannan, who is to become the Phils’ fifth starter, to replace Worley in the rotation, to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million dollars. Lannan, who had spent his entire career with the Nats, before becoming a free agent, appeared in only six games last year, all of them starts, as he compiled a record of 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA and a WHIP of 1.44, as he pitched a total of 32 and two-thirds innings, giving up 33 hits and 15 runs, all earned. He struck out 17 batters, while walking 14. During his six seasons with the Nats, Lannan had a win-lost record of 42-52, as he compiled an ERA of 4.01 and a career WHIP of 1.42, as he pitched a total of 783 and two-thirds innings, while appearing in 134 games, all starts. He would give up a total of 820 hits, as opponents scored 393 times, with 349 of those runs being earned. He would strikeout a total of 410 batters, while walking just 296. Welcome to the ballclub, guys. I hope that you two were worth the money spent.

The Phils have during the month mention that they would like to add a veteran corner outfielder, either via free agent signing or another trade, but it looks like they have the club they want before they enter spring training next month. I’m just hoping this team will improve on their third place finish last year.

The Phils (2-3, 3rd) will conclude their opening series at home with the Marlins (2-4, T-4th) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and is to start at 7:05 pm EDT.

The Phils will send to the mound Joe Blanton (0-1, 13.50) who will be making his first start of the 2012 season. Blanton, who in an injury plagued 2011 complied a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 5.01 and a WHIP of 1.48, as he appeared in just eleven games, eight of which were for starts, pitching in 41.1 innings, striking out 35 batters, while walking 9, is coming off a lost in relief against the Pirates this past Saturday, April 7, as he went two-thirds of an inning, giving up a run on two-hits, in the Phils’ 2-1 ninth-inning lost. Blanton will be out to show that he had fully recovered from his 2011 arm injuries. The Marlins will counter with Mark Buehrle (0-1, 3.00), who had spent 2011 pitching for the White Sox, compling a record of 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA and a WHIP of 1.30, as he started 31 games, pitching in 205.1 innings, striking out 109 batters, while walking 45, as he is coming off a lost against the Reds in his first start as a National Leaguer on April 5, as he went six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks, while he struck out six, in the Marlins’ 4-0 lost. He will be trying to do better in his second National League start.

The Phils, whose bats had decided to come out last night with a fourteen-hit attack, which included three extra-base hits (2B (2), HR (1)), as they gave their ace Roy Halladay some much needed runs support as they scored seven runs, five of which were in one inning, as Halladay threw another good performance on the mound, as he gave up only one run while scattering five Marlins’ hits, will be trying to end their three-game series with the Marlins on a high note. Blanton will be out to show that his performances during spring training were but a prelude to a good 2012 season, while he hopes that the Phils’ offense will continue to roll. The Phils will be trying to even up their regular season record with a win tonight, before they start a three-game weekend series with the Mets.

An error on a strikeout, and a leaky bullpen allows the Pirates to pull off another walk-off win against the Phils as they lose in the bottom of the ninth, 5-4.

The Phils took the lead in the first as, with one man on, and with one man out, Hunter Pence hits an RBI double, knocking in Shane Victorino, who had earlier singled, then moved up to second base on Jimmy Rollins’ ground out, 3-unassisted, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead. The Phils added to their lead in the fourth as, with one man out, Pence hits a solo home run, his first home run of the season, giving the Phils a 2-0 lead. The Pirates got a run back in the fifth as Pedro Alvarez hits a lead-off home run, his first home run of the season, making it a 2-1 Phils’ lead. The Phils increased their lead in the seventh as, with two men on, and with two men out, Juan Pierre hits a two-run single, knocking in Ty Wigginton, who had earlier walked, then went to second base on Freddy Galvis’ sacrifice bunt, before going on to third as second baseman Neil Walker committed a missed catch error on pitcher Jared Hughes’ throw, and Galvis, who was safe at first on Walker’s error, before going on to second base on the error, giving the Phils a 4-1 lead. The Pirates got a run back in their half of the seventh as, with a runner on first, as Alvarez reaches first base on a strikeout, as Wigginton committed a fielding error on Brian Schneider’s throw for the out attempt, and with two men out, Casey McGehee hits an RBI double, scoring Alvarez, making it a 4-2 Phils’ lead. The Pirates then made it a 4-3 Phils’ lead as Alex Presley hits an RBI single, knocking in McGehee. The Pirates then tied the game up at four-all in the eighth as, with two men on, and with two men out, pinch hitter Matt Hague hits an RBI single, his first major league hit, scoring Andrew McCutchen, who had earlier singled, then stole second base, while sending pinch hitter Yamaico Navarro, who had earlier walked, on to second base. The Pirates then won the game in the bottom of the ninth as, with a man on third, and with two men out, McCutchen hits an RBI single, scoring pinch runner Josh Hamilton, who was pinch running for McGehee, who had earlier doubled, then went to third on Presley sacrifice bunt, 2-4, giving the Pirates a 5-4 walk-off win.

Vance Worley received a no-decision as he went six strong innings, giving up a run on five hits and a walk, while striking out five. Michael Stutes collected his first hold of the season as he pitched an inning, giving up two unearned runs on two hits, while striking out two. Kyle Kendrick picked up his first hold of the year as he went a third of an inning, giving up a run on a hit. Antonio Bastardo received his first blown save of the season as he went two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out two. David Herndon (0-1, 13.50) took the lost as he went two-thirds of an inning, giving up a run on two hits, while he struck out a batter. James McDonald also received a no-decision as he went six innings, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks, while he struck out three. Jared Hughes pitched an inning, giving up two runs on a hit and two walks, while striking out a batter. Evan Meek pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out one. Joel Hanrahan (1-0, 0.00) got the win as he pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two.

The Phils had just five hits in the ballgame, with Juan Pierre (Singles, 2 RBI) and Hunter Pence (Double, Home Run, 2 RBIs) both leading the ball club with two hits each. Shane Victorino (Single) had the other Phil hit, a single. The Phils also had two stolen bases as Pierre and Victorino were involved in a double steal. The offense is performing some early small ball. Sadly it is not translating into runs, as they are presently leaving too many men in scoring position.

The Phils (1-2, 3rd) will start their first home stand of the season with a three-game series with the Marlins (1-3, 4th). The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and it will start at 1:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound for their home opener Cole Hamels (0-0, -.–) who ended 2011 with a 14-9 record with an ERA of 2.79 and a WHIP of 0.99. He pitched in 32 games, all but one of them as a starter, throwing a total of 216 innings, in which he struck out 184 batters, while walking only 44. Cole will be trying to continue where he left off last year, while trying to end the Phils present losing streak. The Marlins will counter with Anibal Sanchez (0-0, -.–), who is coming off a 2011 season with a record of 8-9, with a 3.67 ERA and a WHIP of 1.28. Sanchez started in 32 games, for a total of 196.1 innings, striking out 202 batters, while walking just 64. He will be trying to stop the Marlins early slide. The Phils will be trying to end their first losing slide, after spoiling two straight quality starts with so-so offense.

The Phils (1-0, T-1 NL East) will continue their three-games series with the Pirates (0-1, T-5 NL Central) with a pair of weekend games.

The first game will be a night game on Saturday, with a start time of 7:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound their number two man in the rotation, Cliff Lee (0-0, -.–) who is coming of a 17-8 2011 season, with an ERA of 2.40 and a WHIP of 1.03. Lee pitched in 32 games, all starts, for a total of 232.2 innings, in which he struck out 238 batters, while walking only 42. Lee will be out to see if he can lead the Phils to a 2-0 start on the season while trying to collect his first win of 2012. The Pirates will try to counter with Jeff Karstens (0-0, -.–) who had ended the 2011 season with a 9-9 record, with a 3.38 ERA and a WHIP of 1.21. Karstens appeared in 30 games, 26 of which were starts, in which he threw a total of 162.1 innings, striking out just 96 batters, while walking 33. Karstens will be trying to see if he can even up the series at a game apiece.

The second of the final two games of the three game set will be an Sunday afternoon game, with a start time of 1:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound Vance Worley (0-0, -.–), who will be in his second full season as a Phil, as he is coming off a 2011 campaign with a record of 11-3, with a 3.01 ERA and a WHIP of 1.23, as he appeared in 25 games, 21 of which were starts, as he accumulated a total of 131.2 innings, striking out 119 batters, while walking only 50. Worley will be trying to prove that he had deserved his third place showing in the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year balloting. The Pirates will send to the mound James McDonald (0-0, -.–), who in 2011 had a record of 9-9 with an ERA of 4.21, as he had 31 starts, totaling 171 innings, as he struck out 142 batters, while walking 78. He will be out to show that he can pitch better than his record would show.

The Phils will be out to win at least one of these two games, to leave Pittsburgh with a winning record, before starting their opening home stand with a three-game series with the Miami (formerly Florida) Marlins.

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